MUSKEGON, MI -- Radium Photo plans to use free wall space in its downtown store to display the work of local photographers and artists in a new gallery.

Radium Photo is opening the "R Corner Gallery" in its downtown Muskegon store to display the work of local photographers and artists.Courtesy

The grand opening of the new “R Corner gallery” at Radium Photo, 835 Terrace St., will be held on Saturday, Feb. 23. There will be hors d’oeuvres, door prizes, special offers and all the art work on the walls will be for sale at the event.

Radium Photo was opened in 1909, by Charles Cihak in downtown Muskegon on Western Avenue. In the mid-1970s the store moved to the current location on Terrace Street where it has remained a fixture in the Lakeshore community for 40 years.

“We are striving to get our name out there again and have been looking at a number of ways to do so,” Charles Cihak Jr., the great grandson and current store manager.

Cihak Jr. has been having conversations with his father, Charles Cihak III, the current owner, about how to keep their business relevant to the local community while keeping up with the rapidly evolving and improving technology in the photography industry.

According to Cihak Jr., opening the gallery space is an attempt to add another attractive feature to the family-owned store that already has a niche in the school portraits market and school sports photography, as well as boasting a professional photo lab and digital printing and cutting services.

Radium has always looked for ways to “give a little bit back to the local community” by photographing events like the Mona Shores Singing Christmas Tree, assisting school yearbook committees and donating time to work with youth sports leagues throughout the year.

The Cihaks see the value in utilizing the unused space in the store for gallery showings because it will be yet another way to give back to the Lakeshore community. The family's goal is help out local photographers and artist friends who have been loyal customers over the years, while also introducing a new generation of fledgling digital photographers to their store.

“We just figure let’s help these guys out. They’ve been helping us out. (Plus) we have quite a bit of wall space,” Cihak Jr. said.

The first show will feature five local image makers, including Fred Reinecke, Carl Carter, Bryan Snuffer, Jim Keating and Joe Gee. All the artists’ work will be for sale and will be displayed up on the gallery walls for a few weeks after the show.

“Part of these shows is not only to show what these artists are capable of doing but also to help them sell pieces,” Cihak Jr. said.

He also thinks having a variety of unique, beautiful art pieces to look at is preferable to bare walls and “will freshen up our store a little bit.”

“I’m excited. I’m kind of excited to see what they’ll bring. I haven’t seen most of it,” Cihak Jr. said.

The plan is to do a new gallery show at Radium once a month. One of the concepts that Cihak Jr. is excited about trying is the salon model where 20 to 30 different artists come in at once with one or two pieces.

Another idea they are considering is hosting artwork from local students.

At the event he is hoping to generate interest in another upcoming addition to the photo store, which is an in-house portrait studio space that area photographers could rent for an affordable price. For now, he and his staff are focused on preparations for the gallery opening.

“I personally love art, and it will really dress up the store, while hopefully getting people in the store to purchase something for their home or business,” Cihak Jr. said.

More detailed information on the “R Corner Gallery” and the other photographic services that Radium Photo offers is available on their website.